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Organized Collections

National Academy of Engineering (NAE): Establishment & Early Work, 1965-1970

[The following collection note is adapted from The National Academy of Engineering: The First Ten Years (NAE, 1976)]

The idea of a National Academy of Engineering was suggested in the late 1950s to the Engineers Joint Council (EJC). When the EJC presented the suggestion to individuals in government, however, it was rejected on the grounds that the formation of such an academy would drive a wedge between science and engineering to the detriment of both. In early 1960, J. Herbert Hollomon suggested, independently, that a national academy of engineering be established—a recommendation which was reported in Science. After discussion with Hollomon, Harold K. Work, then Director of the Engineering Foundation in New York, presented the idea to the Foundation’s Research Procedure Committee. Acting on the recommendation of that group, the Foundation’s Executive Committee in mid-June 1960 authorized a feasibility study of a national academy of engineering. There was strong feeling that the EJC should also be involved, and discussion between the two organizations was initiated.

In August 1960 the EJC formed a committee to study the pros and cons of establishing an engineering academy, either as part of the National Academy of Sciences or as a separate institution. The EJC asked the Engineering Foundation for Work’s services as Executive Secretary of this exploratory committee, and for supporting funds.

It was decided early on that any exploration with respect to a national engineering organization should include the NAS, because the objectives of both the NAS and an engineering academy were considered to be similar. Consequently, the NAS was invited to participate in the exploratory committee’s discussions. Thus, the committee included representatives of the NAS and its operating arm, the National Research Council, as well as the EJC (which took lead responsibility for the endeavor), the Engineering Foundation, and the Engineers Council for Professional Development.

At its meeting of 20 September 1961, the exploratory committee voted in favor of establishing a national academy of engineering. The specific recommendations were that: 1) A National Academy of Engineering be established in cooperation with the NAS; 2) The initial membership and the constitution and bylaws be subject to approval by the NAS Council and the Board of the EJC; and 3) A 12-member committee be formed to explore the founding of a National Academy of Engineering.

A second study was then initiated, for which a special committee of the NAS was appointed to work with the EJC committee. The EJC committee was charged with developing a proposal for the establishment of an engineering organization representative of the engineering profession, while the NAS committee was requested to consider how the proposed engineering unit could be integrated in the NAS in a manner satisfactory to the engineers and consistent with the principles of the NAS.

On 20 February 1963 the EJC transmitted its proposal to the NAS committee, recommending that a national academy of engineering similar in character and complementary to the NAS be established within the NAS framework, with all decisions regarding the proposed academy being ratified by the NAS Council. The NAS membership gave its approval at their Annual Meeting in April.

Upon the recommendation of the EJC, NAS President Frederick Seitz in March 1964 appointed a “Committee of Twenty-Five” to establish an NAE. Seitz offered a plan whereby the new academy would be established under the NAS charter, allowing the NAE to select its own members, officers, and governing council; establish its own bylaws; use existing NAS facilities; and issue reports in its own name. The NAS membership voted in support of the plan, and on 5 December 1964 the Council of the NAS approved the Articles of Organization of the National Academy of Engineering, thus bringing the NAE into being.